Outline

1. Outline • Research in Medical School • Abstracts and the Medical Student Research Forum • Year-long Programs • MD, with Distinction in Research • MD-Masters in Clinical Science Program • Calendar • Grants Primer

2. What Steps Does Medical Training Entail and What Role Does (Can) Research Play? • Medical School - yes • Internship (yes) • Residency (yes) • Fellowship - yes! • Faculty – yes!!

3. Research in Medical School • Easiest to conduct before year 1 and / or between years 1 and 2 • It is also possible to conduct research as an elective during the 3rd and 4th years • Some students elect to take a year off to obtain more detailed research training • Sarnoff • Doris Duke • Howard Hughes Medical Institute • NIH-HHMI • Other (e.g. CDC, Fulbright, many programs in different areas)

4. Research in Medical School WHY?

5. Research in Medical School: Altruistic Answers • To advance the state of medical knowledge and practice • To cure disease and alleviate suffering

6. Research in Medical School: Realistic Answers • Because it is interesting • For recognition • To explore areas that may potentially be of long-term interest • Clinical area • Research area • To develop useful contacts • To cover all my bases • Maybe I might be interested in research as a component of my career…..

7. How Much Difference Can It Make? • Competitive residencies and fellowships • Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology …. but really all. • “The panelists, led by Dr. Paul Klotman, chief of medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, then detailed the steps medical students must take to achieve a successful academic career, such as deciding a course early on: engaging in scholarly pursuits during residency training, choosing a mentor, finding a supportive institution for research, and the process of applying for grants in the postdoctoral years. Dr. Klotman congratulated the Doris Duke fellows for having the wisdom to take a year out of their medical school training to obtain formal training in research. He averred that commitment is one of the leading qualities that fellowship directors look for among their applicants and that participation in a fellowship such as the Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship demonstrates a sincere interest in a career in academic medicine.” Journal of Investigative Medicine 51: 330-340, 2003

8. What is Available? • Programs • Activities • Advice

9. Summer Medical Research Programs • There exist a variety of targeted programs (here and at other institutions) to promote research among medical students: bulletin boards near student mailboxes and outside Y5.322 • At UT Southwestern, opportunities are available in almost any area: identifying a mentor and the definition of a project are all that are required • For the last several years, between 130-140 students have participated in summer research programs at Southwestern • All students will submit a brief summary of their at the end of the summer (online tool) • Students are encouraged to work within formal programs - whether on or off campus; whether a part of summer (or year-long) programs • Running list maintained as link off of the Medical Student Research page

10. Medical Student Research Forum • January 20, 2010 • Guest speaker: Daniel K. Podolsky, M.D., (invited) • Abstract forms available & to be submitted on line • Abstract deadline: 5 PM on November 16, 2009 • Panel of judges will select the top abstracts: oral session presentations • All students submitting abstracts are eligible to participate in the poster session/reception • Prizes will be awarded for top oral and poster presentations

11. Abstracts • Everyone is invited to submit • Success of your project is not a prerequisite • Exposure to faculty and fellows that share your interests • Efforts in science are not always successful • Presentation is an essential element of science • Conception  Execution  Reporting • The abstract book is published • Participation and publication should be listed on your CV • Summary submitted at the end of the summer should serve as an easy precursor to an abstract for submission

12. Year-long Programs • Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowships • 2008-2009: Marcus Bell, Christopher Cano, Emily Adhikari, Jaime Legendre, Christopher Malone, Christopher McPhaul, Akhil Narang, Heidi Prather, Lucas Rifkin • HHMI Research Fellowships • 2005-2006: Sophie Esmail • ‘Cloisters’ (NIH-HHMI Research Fellowships) • Sarnoff Research Fellowships • Fulbright Scholar • Vuong Nguyen - Global AIDS Program (Kenya); 2003-2004 • Osamah Saeedi - Congenital Cardiovascular Malformations (Egypt) 2005-2006 • Stipend + Educational expenses; more importantly for those that have an interest in research, these programs are ‘Golden Tickets’

13. M.D., with Distinction in Research  I. Purpose: To recognize students that distinguish themselves in the conduct of meaningful clinical or basic research activities during the course of their medical school training. • II. Outcome: Individuals satisfying the program requirements would be recognized at graduation and on their diploma as graduating with: the degree of Doctor of Medicine, with Distinction in Research

14. M.D., with Distinction in Research • Research may be in the area of clinical or basic research and should encompass a minimum of 16 weeks. • Research successfully performed toward attainment of a Ph.D. would not be eligible for this program. • Research performed under the auspices of a nationally recognized research program (e.g. Sarnoff, Cloisters, HHMI, or Doris Duke Clinical Research programs) during medical school will be eligible for fulfillment of the research requirement.

15. M.D., with Distinction in Research Application Committee Thesis

16. MD-Masters in Clinical Science Program • In order to provide a more robust opportunity by which interested medical students can enhance the level of clinical research training, UT Southwestern has established a combined MD-Masters in Clinical Science Program. • This training program will combine rigorous didactic training with a mentored clinical research project. The completion of the didactic and practical training will be marked by the successful submission and public defense of a Masters thesis.

17. MD-Masters in Clinical Science Program Who is eligible ? • At present, this program is available only to medical students enrolled at UT Southwestern. It is anticipated that this program will become much more broadly accessible in future years with the impending designation of UT Southwestern as having successfully competed for an NIH CTSA.

18. MD-Masters in Clinical Science Program What is the timing of the program? • It is anticipated that interested students will conduct the two years of the Masters program following the completion of their third year of medical school. In selected instances, applications will be accepted from students that will have completed their second year of medical school.

19. MD-Masters in Clinical Science Program What does the program provide? • Following the third year of medical school, students enter the two Master's years of the program. During this time, students will receive a stipend, graduate school tuition, and health insurance. This support will be continued throughout the duration of the Masters years of the program.Importantly, after the successful completion of the Master's component of the program, students will receive stipend, medical school tuition, and health insurance support during their final year of medical school. 

20. MD-Masters in Clinical Science Program Application process and selection criteria • Application to the program will employ the electronic graduate school application. Successful candidates will be chosen following review by the MD-Master's Program - Selection Committee. • In addition to the completed on-line application form, an official medical school transcript and two letters of recommendation are required. For students applying for the 2009-2010 school year, applications should be completed by January 15, 2009. Students selected to participate in the program for the 2009-2010 school year will begin their didactic coursework during the 2009 Fall semester.

21. Research and Medicine Seminars • Experimental approach to bringing into focus the impact of research on the practice of medicine • Case-based approach presenting data by which the information derived from the understanding of a disease at a molecular level has been harnessed to derive important new avenues of treatment • Noon time, usually D1.600 or D1.700

22. General Advice • Success is attainable in every venue; background is no impediment • Build on your strengths and interests • Materials engineering  apply to medical biomaterials • Associate with a good mentor / group - - and stick with it; become more than a name on a page • Small investment over long time = big return (e.g. participation in group meetings or research conferences) • Identify a scientific ‘400 lb. Gorilla’ to help you to open doors

23. General Advice • Having established a relationship with a mentor, spend the time to maintain it. • Be efficient with your time; it is difficult to move ahead if you are always starting over • Think ahead and plan - do not procrastinate

24. Calendar of Events • Summer Research: now – August 7 • Research Interest meeting: Late September (venue not yet set) • Year-long programs & visitors from the different programs • MSRF planning • MSRF abstracts due: 5 PM on November 16, 2009 • Judging and selection for oral session usually completed by ~ Thanksgiving • Application deadlines for the year-long programs are variable (generally in early January) • MSRF: January 19, 2010 • Research and Medicine Seminar Series: variable • Held at approximately monthly, scheduled around the minefields that are the MS1 and MS2 curricula; D classrooms, noon, lunch - - RSVP!

25. Outline • Research in Medical School • Abstracts and the Medical Student Research Forum • Year-long Programs • MD, with Distinction in Research • MD-Masters in Clinical Science Program • Calendar • Grants Primer

26. Summer programs, T-35, Doris Duke ….